High speed data interface to the AC power line through a standard light bulb socket

ABSTRACT

A data receiving or transmitting device, having data receiving or transmitting capability, is coupled respectively from or to an AC power line through a standard light bulb socket. In one aspect, a data interface includes a data receiving device that may be configured for extracting data encoded for transmission or encoding data to be embedded and transmitted along the AC power line branch circuit. In another aspect a data receiving device includes a loudspeaker, an amplifier, and a data decoder coupled to the AC power line for playback of audio program material communicated to the device along the power line. The device screws into a light bulb socket for a “no-tools” installation.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present U.S. patent application claims priority from earlier filedU.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/601,074, filed Aug. 12,2004 and entitled “High Speed Data Interface To The AC Power LineThrough A Standard Light Bulb Socket.”

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention generally relates to high speed data communicationvia the AC power line and, more particularly, to providing access to ahigh speed data communications network on the AC power line through astandard light bulb socket or receptacle.

2. Background and Description of the Prior Art

The development of the technology for high speed or broadband datacommunication on the AC power line has advanced to the point where it isreadily available for use in and with consumer products that can beinstalled and used without having to install wiring and without havingto rely on batteries as a source of power. The technology is currentlyknown as “broadband powerline” or “BPL,” or “powerline communication” or“PLC.” Within these categories, the technology discussed herein below isthe subcategory of so-called “in-home” or “in-building” BPL or PLC.However, the apparatus necessary for interfacing consumer products withthe AC power line has only been developed to a limited degree. What isneeded are innovative designs for devices that obtain electrical powerfrom the AC power line and utilize a low cost high speed data interfacein a power line communications system for supplying signals required bysuch devices.

Prior art solutions to this problem typically utilize a standard AC pluginserted into a standard AC receptacle for interfacing a consumer deviceto the AC power line. This works for devices located near the floor (inthe typical residence), devices connected to a line cord, or devicesthat have no limitation as to where access to the AC power line isprovided. However, there is another class of devices that are notwell-adapted to this particular line cord and plug/receptacle interface,that may be mounted in a ceiling or on a wall near the ceiling or inwhich a line cord is not supplied. Some examples of this class ofdevices include (a) entertainment devices such as loudspeakers; (b)comfort devices such as HVAC sensors and controls, air filtering andconditioning; (c) security apparatus such as motion and proximitysensors, sound sensors or cameras; (d) communication terminal equipment;and the like.

Besides the conventional wall outlet or receptacle for accessing the ACpower line, the other standard connection mechanism for connecting adevice to the AC power line is the light bulb socket. Light bulb socketsare available in a variety of types and sizes. The most common is thestandard medium lamp receptacle used for installing incandescent lightbulbs having the well-known threaded medium lamp base. The medium lampbase and receptacle provides two electrical contacts and is rated fordevice power requirements of up to 300 watts. The threaded portion ofthe base or receptacle (the “shell”), is connected to the neutral sideof the AC line circuit and the center contact of the base or receptacleis connected to the line or “hot” side of the AC line circuit.

There are several advantages of a light bulb socket as compared to awall outlet, including (a) no line cord or plug is required—the deviceis simply screwed into the socket; (b) the mechanical connection is viaa threaded connector, not one that relies on spring tension in thecontacts of the connector to maintain a tight, mechanically secureconnection; and (c) a light bulb socket is likely to be located in awider variety of places and is thus more versatile and adaptable to avariety of devices that require both AC power and a reliable high speeddata access.

Loudspeakers are typical of the kind of device that ordinarily requirewiring to convey the sound signals to them. In the case of so-called“powered speakers,” especially suitable for remote or extensionspeakers, AC power wiring is also usually required for their operation.Thus, the installation of extension speakers or ceiling speakers orsurround sound speakers in an existing home environment requires thatwiring for the AC power or for the audio signal or both be installedbefore the speakers may be used. Installation of such wiring is often adifficult and expensive task that typically requires the skills of anelectrician to install the wiring properly, safely, and to accommodatelocal building codes. As a result, to avoid the cost and inconvenience,speakers may often be installed by non-electricians with haphazardwiring, often in unsightly fashion.

For example, several solutions exist in the prior art for coupling apowered loudspeaker system to the AC power line. This includes thetraditional one of running the audio signal wires from the audio signalsource through the wall or along the wall or baseboard to the extensionspeaker. In another example of a solution disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.5,980,057 issued to Borchardt, et al., a speaker assembly adapted to beinstalled in a light bulb socket is equipped with an FM wirelessreceiver. The FM receiver receives broadcast signals over a modulated RFcarrier in the 900 MHz band. The FM receiver demodulates the soundsignal for play back via an amplifier coupled to the loudspeaker.However, the FM receiver must lock to a particular station or channel,it has a limited range because of the restrictions on devices operatingin the 900 MHz band, and is susceptible to interference from broadcastFM stations operating in the same geographical area. This analogtechnology for conveying the audio signal is also susceptible tointerference in the form of electrical noise and transients that areoften present on the AC power line. By contrast, the digital modulationtechnologies are much more immune to interference that is largelycomprised of such amplitude disturbances in the AC waveform. What isneeded is a speaker unit that obtains the signals by a more robust andinterference-free system than is available with analog FM modulation ofan RF carrier, whether the medium is wireless broadcast or a power linecarrier system.

In another example, disclosed in U.S. patent application No. US2003/0197807 filed by Wu, a surveillance unit is mounted in a lightsocket and receives power from the light socket. Video data from acamera in the surveillance unit and/or audio data from a microphone maybe sent via a wireless transceiver or via a power line network to acontrol or display location. The surveillance unit may include a speakerfor playing audio information. However, the disclosed device isessentially a surveillance device which transmits information from itslocation via some undefined wireless or power line communicationapparatus. There is little or no disclosure or teaching of transmittingor receiving and processing high speed data for use in data terminaldevices connected to the AC power line via a lamp socket, the use of alamp socket as a high speed data interface, or how the “audioinformation” is processed and communicated from a microphone or to aloudspeaker in a device connected to a lamp socket.

What is needed in this example of a loudspeaker system, or any otherdata receiving device, is a simple, inexpensive way to provide both ACpower and robust, high speed data to the location of an extension orsurround sound or ceiling speaker (or other data receiving device)without having to install new wiring. This would enable a person tosimply install the speaker or other device in a suitable location justas he or she would install a light bulb. Such a system would also supplythe audio or other signal to it via a power line communication systemwithout having to run separate wiring to the installed speaker system ordata terminal device. Besides being easy to install, the high speed datacommunications network on the power line that is used to convey thesignal information (data) must be selected on the basis of robustness,resistance to the effects of interference, and able to maintain acceptedstandards for Quality of Service (QoS).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, there is disclosed a data receiving device for coupling toan AC power line through a standard light bulb socket, comprising: aframe; a standard medium lamp base supported by the frame and forconnecting to a branch circuit of the AC power line; an electricaldevice having signal terminals and supported by the frame; electricalcircuitry having a first input and a first output, the first outputcoupled to the signal terminals for driving the electrical device; and adata receiver having a first input for receiving both AC power and adata signal from the AC power line, the second input coupled to the lampbase and a first output coupled to the first input of the electricalcircuitry.

In one embodiment, the electrical device is a loudspeaker (or othertransducer) which is fed audio (or other) signals by an amplifier (orother device) supported on the loudspeaker (or transducer) frame. Theaudio (or other) signals are decoded from high speed data obtained fromthe output of a HomePlug® receiver which receives and demodulates theaudio (or other) signals transmitted as data along the AC power line bya compatible HomePlug® transmitter connected to an audio signal source.The data receiving device of the present invention may include astandard medium lamp receptacle that has a lamp bulb screwed into it.The lamp and the data receiving device both receive their operatingvoltages from the AC power line.

In other aspects of the invention, a data interface is disclosed forcoupling a data terminal device to an AC power line branch circuit andfor receiving and/or transmitting data encoded and transmitted along theAC power line branch circuit. The data interface comprises a standardmedium lamp base coupled to the data terminal device for threadablyengaging a standard medium lamp receptacle connected to the AC powerline branch circuit, and a data receiving or transmitting interfacecircuit, i.e., a modem, in the data terminal device and coupled to thestandard medium lamp base for decoding and extracting the data encodedand transmitted along the AC power line branch circuit to the dataterminal device and/or for encoding and embedding data for transmissionover the AC power line branch circuit from the data terminal device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of one embodiment of a data receivingdevice for use with a power line data communications network coupled toan AC power line branch circuit via a standard light bulb socketaccording to the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exploded pictorial view of the embodiment of thedata receiving device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 illustrates a pictorial view of one embodiment of a system forproviding data signals via a power line data communications network, foruse with the data receiving device according to the present invention;and;

FIG. 4 illustrates a wall plate control that may be used with theembodiment of the data receiving device of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the detailed description which follows, the term “high speed” datawill be taken to mean digital data transmitted at a relatively high datarate. Data rate is measured in bits per second. For example, a data rateof 10 million bits per second is usually expressed as 10 M bps. Highspeed data transfer in power line communications in currently availabletechnologies is typically in the range of one to twenty Mbps.Technologies under development are pushing this range to 50 and 100 Mbpsand beyond. In the exemplary embodiment to be described using theHomePlug® 1.0 technology, the maximum data rate is 14 Mbps. However,other versions of this technology, such as HomePlug AV (foraudio-video), operating at data rates up to 60 Mbps and higher may soonbe available. As compared with CCITT Group 3 or Group 4 facsimiletransmission or the modems typically used for personal computers beforethe widespread availability of digital subscriber lines (DSL), forexample, which operated at data rates up to 28 Kbps or 56 Kbps, datarates of 1.0 Mbps are “high speed.” Thus, in the following description,any data rate over 1.0 Mbps will be considered “high speed.”

A high speed data interface to the AC power line through a standardlight bulb socket is disclosed enabling a simple, no-tools installationof data devices. This high speed data access concept may be adapted to avariety of entertainment, security, appliance and communication devices.In one described embodiment using a specially modified loudspeaker unit,a standard ceiling cannister lamp is converted to a loudspeaker systeminstallation while retaining the lamp feature. No AC or other wiringneeds to be installed. Circuitry in the modified loudspeaker unit ispowered by the AC voltage from the wiring for the cannister light bulbsocket. The circuitry includes a power supply that provides theoperating DC voltages required by the circuitry. Audio signal isprovided in the disclosed embodiment via the AC power line by aHomePlug® high speed data communication network system.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a block diagram of oneembodiment of a data receiving device 10 for coupling to an AC powerline branch circuit via a standard light bulb socket. The data receivingdevice 10 includes a frame 12 for supporting a standard medium lamp base14, an electrical device 16, electrical circuitry 18, and a datareceiver 20. In this embodiment, the frame 12 may be an extension of theframe of a loudspeaker, which is the electrical device 16. The frame 12includes provisions for supporting the structures identified above. Forexample, the frame 12 of the loudspeaker may be configured as anenclosure, on which is mounted the standard medium lamp base 14, andwithin which is mounted the electrical circuitry 18 and the datareceiver 20. The standard medium lamp base 14, a standard, threadedlight bulb base used for ordinary incandescent light bulbs, ispreferably insulated from the frame 12 to prevent short circuits oraccidental contact with the electrically live portions of the lamp base14. The electrical device 16 in this embodiment is a conventionalloudspeaker driver having a frame, a cone, a magnet and a voice coil,along with a pair of signal terminals 43, 45. The signal terminals 43,45 are provided to connect the output of an audio amplifier in theelectrical circuitry 18 to be described herein below.

The electrical device or loudspeaker 16 includes a modified frame forsupporting the structures of the disclosed embodiment, as will befurther described. For example, in the described embodiment, theloudspeaker 16 maybe a full range, 5¼ inch diameter unit that can bemounted within a standard 5¾ inch diameter lamp cannister, as will bedescribed herein below in further detail. In other embodiments,loudspeaker drivers having other diameters may be used depending on thespecific application. For example, a 6½ inch loudspeaker may be used inlarger canisters such as a standard 7¼ inch diameter unit. In anotherexample (not shown), a frame 12 secured to a lighting fixture (notshown) of another type may be configured to support several smallloudspeakers along with the data receiving device according to thepresent disclosure.

Continuing with FIG. 1, the standard medium lamp base 14 (hereinafterreferred to as the lamp base 14) is connected to a line wire 28 and aneutral wire 30. The line and neutral wires 28, 30 may be connected to apower supply 26 via a first switch 32 and respective line and neutralnodes 36, 38. The power supply 26 provides several DC voltages to theelectrical circuitry 18 and the circuits within the data receiver 20.The outputs of the power supply 26 appear on the power supply output bus46, which may also be connected to the power line coupler 44 and otherelectrical circuitry to be described. The line and neutral wires at theoutput of switch 32 may also be extended from nodes 36, 38 to the inputof a power line coupler 44.

The power line coupler 44 may include circuitry for isolating the datareceiving device 10 from the AC power line (not shown) to which the lampbase 14 is connected. The isolation is provided to block the lowfrequency AC power line voltage and pass the data signals present on theAC power line. The power line coupler 44 may also include circuitry forsuppressing conducted RF interference that may be generated in the datareceiving device because of its digital circuitry. The power linecoupler 44 may further include circuitry for suppressing transientsignals that might be present on the AC power line from time to time.The techniques for providing the isolation filtering of conductedinterference, and transient suppression functions are well known topersons skilled in the art and will not be further described herein. Theoutput of the power line coupler 44 is provided along a signal path 70coupled to a first input of the data receiver 20.

The data receiving device 10 may include a standard medium lampreceptacle 24, which is the familiar threaded light bulb socket used ina conventional floor lamp, desk lamp or ceiling lamp fixture, and ishereinafter referred to as a lamp receptacle 24 or lamp socket 24. Theline and neutral wires 28, 30 may also be connected through a secondswitch 34 to the lamp receptacle 24 via wires 40, 42, to provide ACpower line voltage to a lamp (not shown) that may be screwed into thelamp receptacle 24. The lamp receptacle 24 may be mounted on the frame12 to accept a light bulb in the fixture containing the light bulbsocket (not shown) into which the lamp base 14 of the data receivingdevice 10 is threaded. The relationship of the lamp receptacle 24 andthe lamp base 14 is illustrated in FIG. 2, to be described herein below.

Continuing with FIG. 1, The electrical circuitry 18 may include, as inthe described embodiment, a digital-to-analog controller (DAC) forconverting digital audio signals, decoded in the data receiver 20 fromthe demodulated high speed data obtained from the power line at the lampbase 14 into base-band analog audio signals. The input to the DAC iscoupled from a node 52, which is also connected via a line 54 to anoutput of the audio processor (to be described) in the data receiver 20.The output of the DAC may then be fed to the input of an audio amplifieradapted to driving the loudspeaker 16 via the lines 48, 50 connectedrespectively through the nodes 43, 45. In the disclosed embodiment amonaural DAC/amplifier combination is used. In a system configured forstereo outputs to two separate speakers, a type AIC23 Stereo CODECavailable from Texas Instruments may be used, for example.

The data receiver 20 in the disclosed embodiment is a combination of asingle chip power line network controller, an INT5200 manufactured bythe Intellon Corporation of Ocala, Fla., 34482 and a single chip networkaudio processor, a TMS320DA180 (hereinafter referred to as the “DA180”)manufactured by Texas Instruments Incorporated of Dallas, Tex. TheINT5200 is used as a transceiver 56 and the DA180 is used as an audioprocessor 76. The transceiver 56 is coupled to the audio processor via aMII interface bus 72 and a MII two-wire bidirectional serial management(serial link) 74. The MII (media independent interface) interface bus 72is part of a standard interface between the PHY (physical layer) and theMAC (media access control layer) of a distributed communications system(i.e., a network, such as the HomePlug® power line network). The PHYlayer in the present embodiment is essentially provided by thetransceiver 56 and the MAC layer is provided in the audio processor 76.The MII interface permits communication between the transceiver 56 andthe microcomputer in the network audio processor 76 in accordance withthe IEEE 802.3u standard.

The transceiver 56 (the Intellon INT5200 chip) provides theimplementation of the HomePlug® power line network control, includingthe signal processing for the orthogonal frequency division multiplexing(OFDM) used in the HomePlug® system to provide a robust communicationnetwork in the presence of the substantial noise, interference andunpredictable line characteristics of a conventional AC power line. Alsoprovided in the transceiver 56 are all analog front end and lineinterface, analog conversion, and signal processing functions. Further,the transceiver 56 provides an EEPROM interface and a number of qualityof service (QoS) features required by the HomePlug® Specification. Acomplete description of the INT5200 is provided in The TechnicalReference Manual for the INT5200 available from Intellon Corporation. InFIG. 1, the essential features of the transceiver 56 are shown andinclude an A-D/D-A converter 58, a PHY block 60, a MAC block 62, and anI/O block 64. The MAC block 64 is coupled to the MII interface describedpreviously. An external EEPROM 66, an AT93C46, is coupled to the MACblock 62 via a signal path 68.

The DA180 chip used to implement the audio processor 76 illustrated inFIG. 1 includes a 10/100BT (Ethernet) MAC interface in addition to a DSP(digital signal processor) and a ARM® RISC (reduced instruction setcomputer) processor. It is well adapted to process audio contenttransmitted on networks and can provide streaming audio data formattedaccording to the MP3, WMA™ and other specifications. The MAC interfacein the audio processor 76 is coupled via the MII interface with thetransceiver 56. A brief description of the DA180 is presented in ProductBulletin No. SPRT266 available from Texas Instruments Inc.

The HomePlug® Specification 1.0 was chosen as a technology well-suitedfor the application illustrated for use in the disclosed embodiment. Itprovides the versatile, robust OFDM high speed data modulation scheme,an enhanced Ethernet-like protocol, and a substantial encryption methodto provide reliable transmission of high speed data capable of handlingstreaming media, VoIP (voice-over-Internet protocol), etc. in a secure,encrypted channel with satisfactory QoS. The OFDM technique divides thedata stream into two or more data streams, each having its own carrierand a lower bit rate. Each carrier is separated in frequency from theother carriers by an amount inversely related to the bit rate of itsdata stream. The carriers may be chosen from any one of up to 84subcarriers, spaced equally within a range in frequency between 4.5 MHzand 21 MHz. Further, each carrier may be modulated differently. Thus,the bit streams are readily distinguishable and recoverable, whichfacilitates reconstruction of the original signal. The carriers may bemodulated using QPSK (quaternary phase shift keying, which can use fourphases of a carrier) or DBPSK (differential binary phase shift keying,which can use two phases of a carrier).

The protocol for regulating access to the channel in the HomePlug®system employs the well-known CSMA/CA (Carrier sense multipleaccess/with collision avoidance) method of testing the channel, using itif it is not in use, or waiting a random interval to try again if it isin use. This basic approach is enhanced in the HomePlug® system byadding priority levels, improving access speed, and other techniques.Encryption is applied by a 56 bit algorithm upon all the packetsformatted for transmission so that all devices in the network are opento each other. However, the network is secure against devices outsidethe local network. Quality of service (QoS) is assured by a variety offeatures to reduce complexity, reduce delays, and ensure higher prioritytraffic is processed more efficiently. Thus, the HomePlug® Specificationis one example of a local network communication scheme well adapted toproviding high speed data to devices connected to the AC power line viaa light bulb socket. Further details of the HomePlug® Specification 1.0,released June, 2001, are available from The HomePlug Powerline Alliance,Inc. at www.homeplug.org.

Several alternate embodiments of the data receiving device 10 are alsoillustrated in FIG. 1. An optional infrared receiver 84 may be coupledbetween a detector 80 mounted on the frame 12 of the loudspeaker 16 andan input to the audio processor 76 via a circuit 86. When used with aninfra red remote control configured for controlling the data receiver20, various control functions may be implemented. Such a feature isespecially useful for data receiving devices mounted out of reach in aceiling lighting fixture. In another alternate embodiment, a wall platecontrol interface may be coupled to an input of the audio processor 76via a control bus 94 and to an input of the audio amplifier in theelectrical circuitry 18 via a control bus 98. The wall plate interfacemay be implemented according to any of several power line communicationsstandards, such as X-10, Universal Powerline Bus (UPB) and others, inwhich control of addressable devices connected to the AC power lineoccurs as low speed data transmissions synchronized with the zerocrossings of the 60 Hz AC voltage. Various control functions, such ascontrol of the volume, selection of program choices, and the like may beprovided by a wall plate interface. The wall plate interface may also beused to provide switching of the AC power line voltages into the datareceiving device 10 or the lamp receptacle 24. In the example shown inFIG. 1, a control bus 96 is provided to operate either the first switch32 to control AC power to the data receiving device 10 or the secondswitch 34 to control AC power to the lamp receptacle 24. Operating ACvoltage to the wall plate control 88 is supplied thereto via bus 90connected to the line and neutral wires 28, 30.

Yet another alternate embodiment of the disclosed invention isillustrated in a portion of FIG. 1. A data interface is contemplated forcoupling a data terminal device to the AC power line branch circuit, forreceiving data encoded and transmitted along the AC power line branchcircuit. The data terminal device, properly configured, may also encodeand transmit data onto the AC power line branch circuit via the datainterface. In one of its basic forms, the data interface comprises thestandard medium lamp base 14, coupled to the data terminal device, i.e.,the data receiving device 10 in FIG. 1. The standard medium lamp base 14enables the data terminal device to threadably engage a standard mediumlamp receptacle connected to the AC power line branch circuit. The datareceiving interface circuit in the data terminal device is coupled tothe standard medium lamp base for extracting the data encoded andtransmitted along the AC power line branch circuit.

In another of its basic forms, the data interface may be configured fortransmitting data. In this form, a data transmitting device (not shown,but similarly constructed as the data receiver using the disclosedINT5200 transceiver) may be coupled to the standard medium lamp base 14.Persons skilled in the art will readily appreciate the steps necessaryto configure the INT5200 transceiver and the DA180 network audioprocessor in combination to function as a data transmitter for encodingaudio signals output from a microphone, embedding them in a signalcompliant with a HomePlug® modulation scheme, for example. Similarly,the data interface device may be configured for both receiving andtransmitting high speed data, i.e., as a data modem, utilizing all ofthe capabilities of the INT5200 transceiver and the DA180 network audioprocessor. The foregoing example, configured for processing audio datafor transmission and reception via the AC power line, is not intended tobe limiting to audio applications but is illustrative of the basicstructure of such devices.

Referring to FIG. 2, there is illustrated an exploded pictorial view ofone embodiment of a data receiving device for use with a power line datacommunications network, according to the present invention. A system 110including the data receiving device 112, a canister assembly 114, and alamp bulb 144 is shown. The canister assembly 114 includes an interiorportion 116 and a standard medium lamp receptacle 118. The datareceiving device 112 includes a loudspeaker unit 120 having a frame 122which supports a standard medium lamp base 124 on the back portion ofthe frame 122 of the loudspeaker unit 120, typically in the vicinity ofthe magnet assembly (not shown) of the loudspeaker unit 120. The frame122 of the loudspeaker unit 120 may be modified further to supportadditional circuitry 126. The additional circuitry 126 may include an ACto DC power supply 130 (26 in FIG. 1) for providing the operatingvoltages needed by the additional circuitry 126. The additionalcircuitry 126 may further include an audio processor 133 (76 in FIG. 1)and a DAC/audio amplifier 132 (18 in FIG. 1) for driving the loudspeaker120 when an audio signal is present. The additional circuitry 126 maypreferably include a HomePlug® data receiver 134 (20 in FIG. 1) fordemodulating data signals and providing digital audio data to the audioprocessor 132. In an alternative embodiment the additional circuitry 126may include an infra red receiver 136 (84 in FIG. 1) connected to aninfra red detector 140 (80 in FIG. 1) to facilitate remote control. Analternative embodiment may also include a wall plate control interface138 (88 in FIG. 1) in the additional circuitry 126. In a typical unitthe data receiver 112 is mounted in the interior 116 of the canisterassembly 114. Further, a standard medium light bulb receptacle 142 ismounted in the center of the front of the loudspeaker, in front of thecone portion of the loudspeaker. A lamp bulb 144 may be installed in thelamp receptacle 142. The canister assembly may typically be mounted in aceiling. In homes under new construction, such fixtures having standardmedium lamp receptacles may be mounted in any surface of a room to adaptits location to the particular environment of the data receiving devicethat is planned for that location.

The lamp base 124 provides both AC power and data signals to the datareceiving device 112. The AC voltages are coupled to the power supply130 (not shown) in the additional circuitry 126 and are isolated fromthe data signals as previously described in conjunction with FIG. 1. Inoperation, the orthogonal frequency division modulation (OFDM) datasignals are received from the lamp receptacle 118 through the lamp base124 to the HomePlug® data receiver 134. After being demodulated in theHomePlug® data receiver 134, the data signals are decoded in the audioprocessor 133, converted, filtered and amplified in the DAC/audioamplifier 132, and coupled to the signal terminals (not shown in FIG. 2)of the loudspeaker 120 to produce the sound corresponding to the audiodata. In a typical implementation the additional circuitry 126 may beintegrated into a compact assembly for mounting upon the frame 122 ofthe loudspeaker unit 120. The loudspeaker selected for use may, e.g., bea wide-range 5¼″ unit adapted to fit within the interior 116 of astandard 5¾″ diameter or 7¼″ diameter canister assembly 114. A 6½″loudspeaker driver may also be used in the 7¼″ size canister. Suchcanister assemblies are commonly found in modern home ceiling lightingfixtures and are readily available from numerous suppliers. It will beappreciated that the data receiving device 112 illustrated in FIG. 2provides for the delivery of both AC power and high speed data signalsvia the lamp receptacle 118 into the circuitry for the power supply 130,the DAC/audio amplifier 132, the audio processor 133, the data receiver134, and the lamp receptacle 142. Operating voltages are also availableto the alternate features including an infra red receiver 136 and thewall plate interface 138.

Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a pictorial view of oneembodiment of a system for providing data signals via a power line datacommunications network, for use with the data receiving device accordingto the present invention. A network apparatus 150 needed to provide thesource signals and the data communications facilities is shown,including a conventional AC wall receptacle 152 connected to the powerline. A HomePlug® transmitter 154 is connected via line cord 156 to oneof the AC receptacles shown plugged into the wall receptacle 152. Anaudio source 158 is connected to an input of the HomePlug® transmitter154 via an audio cable 160. In an alternative embodiment, an X-10 or UPBunit 162 may also be connected to the wall receptacle 152 via a linecord 164.

A wall plate interface 170 having controls 172 and 174 mounted thereonis shown in FIG. 4. Control 172, for example, may control the volumeheard through the speaker. Control 174, for example, may control thebrightness of the lamp bulb (144 of FIG. 2) or make a selection of aprogram choice. The wall plate interface 170 may be mounted in thevicinity of the data receiving device 112 of FIG. 2. The X-10 or UPBsystem maybe used to provide control for the lamp bulb 144 installed inthe lamp receptacle 142 of the data receiving unit 112 as shown in FIG.2.

To summarize the described embodiment, a HomePlug® networking system isused to convey streaming audio data on the AC power line and through thelamp socket. The HomePlug® system is a robust, Ethernet-like,peer-to-peer network implemented using, e.g., low-cost, single chipproducts manufactured by Intellon and Texas Instruments. The audiosignal is supplied from a HomePlug® transmitter as a high speed datasignal (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing, or OFDM) conductedalong the power line through a threaded, standard light bulb base on theloudspeaker unit and into the additional circuitry attached to themodified loudspeaker. The data signal is demodulated, decoded, andconverted from digital to analog form for driving an audio amplifier,which outputs the signal to the signal terminals connected to the voicecoil of the loudspeaker.

Several optional features may be incorporated into the modifiedloudspeaker. For example, an infrared receiver may be included toprovide remote control of the volume or the audio selection. Similarly,control of the supply of AC voltage to the data receiving device or thelight bulb may be controlled by a standard X10 or Universal PowerlineBus (UPB) system that provides low speed data communication synchronizedwith the zero crossings of the AC power line voltage waveform.

To install the units, one removes the light bulb from its canister andinstalls the modified loudspeaker into the receptacle of the canisterunit. Then, replace the light bulb that was previously removed byscrewing it into the standard socket in the front of the loudspeakerunit itself. In this way a loudspeaker is installed in a standardcanister fixture without the need to install additional wiring andwithout using any tools.

Other electrical devices operating on high speed data maybe interfacedto the AC power line through a light bulb socket using the same conceptand similar implementation. For example, high speed data for securitydevices such as cameras, motion, temperature, sound or proximitysensors, listening devices, automated appliance controls, communicationsdevices such as modems, etc. may be coupled to and transferred along theAC power line to a terminating HomePlug® receiver through a standardlight bulb socket.

In other configurations, canisters may be adapted for table or floorlamp use wherein the lamp unit may include a lamp in one canister and aloudspeaker in another canister. Alternatively, a lamp type base havingtwo canisters may provide stereo sound by adding two loudspeakers, onefor the left signal speaker the other for the right signal speaker.

A high speed data interface to the AC power line through a standardlight bulb socket is described enabling a simple, no-tools installationof data devices. Such data devices may include, but are not limited toHVAC system controls, security apparatus (cameras, motion, temperature,sound and proximity sensors, listening devices), entertainment devicesand loudspeakers, communications devices such as modems, and appliancecontrols. In one exemplary embodiment using a specially modifiedloudspeaker unit, a standard ceiling canister lamp is converted to aloudspeaker system installation while retaining the lamp feature. Thus,an extension, surround sound, or ceiling speaker may be installed inexisting homes equipped with canister lighting without the need toinstall new wiring. Circuitry in the modified loudspeaker unit ispowered by the AC voltage from the canister wiring. Audio signal isprovided by a HomePlug®, high speed data power line communicationnetwork system.

While the invention has been shown in detail in only one of its forms,it is not thus limited but is susceptible to various changes andmodifications and adaptation to other devices having data receivingcapability without departing from the spirit thereof.

1. An apparatus for providing a data interface to an AC powerlinethrough a standard light bulb socket, comprising: a data terminal devicefor coupling to an AC power line and processing data communicated alongthe AC power line; and a data interface for coupling the data terminaldevice to the AC power line via a standard medium lamp base, comprising:a frame; a standard medium lamp base supported by the frame and forconnecting to a branch circuit of the AC power line; an electricaldevice having signal terminals and supported by the frame; electricalcircuitry having a first input and a first output, the first outputcoupled to the signal terminals for driving the electrical device; and adata receiver having a first input for receiving both AC power and adata signal from the AC power line, the first input coupled to the lampbase, and a first output coupled to the first input of the electricalcircuitry.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame comprises theframe of a transducer.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the framecomprises the frame of a loudspeaker.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1,wherein the electrical circuitry comprises an audio amplifier precededby a low pass filter.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein theelectrical device comprises a transducer.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5,wherein the transducer comprises a loudspeaker.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 5, wherein the transducer comprises a plurality of loudspeakers.8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the frame further includes astandard medium lamp receptacle supported thereon and coupled to the ACpower line for receiving a lamp bulb therein.
 9. The apparatus of claim8, wherein the data receiving device is configured in combination with aloudspeaker system.
 10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein theloudspeaker system is configured as an extension speaker.
 11. Theapparatus of claim 9, wherein the loudspeaker system is configured as aunit of a surround sound speaker system.
 12. The apparatus of claim 9,wherein the loudspeaker system is configured as an extension speaker formounting at least partially in a ceiling or wall surface.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 8, wherein the electrical device comprises aloudspeaker, the electrical circuitry comprises an audio amplifier, anda wall-mounted control unit associated with a light switch assemblyconnected to the AC power line that maintains power to the electricaldevice and data receiver and provides control of the volume and sourceselection to the loudspeaker while including control of a lamp bulbconnected in the standard medium lamp receptacle of the data receivingunit.
 14. Sound reproduction apparatus responsive to data signalscoupled through a light bulb socket, comprising: a frame for aloudspeaker device; a loudspeaker device supported by the frame, forreproducing audio signals decoded from data signals communicated on anAC power line; a light bulb base supported by the flame; and a datainterface device for coupling the loudspeaker device to the AC powerline via the light bulb base; wherein the data interface devicecomprises a data receiving interface circuit for decoding, extracting,and amplifying the audio signals from the data signals communicatedthrough the AC power line.